Oldham failed to pay their players and management team on Friday – just a day before losing 5-0 at home to Peterborough.

While other Boundary Park employees received their money, the playing and management staff were told they would have to wait a few days.

Nevertheless, manager Paul Dickov branded their attitude ‘disgusting’ after a woeful second half at Boundary Park.

“The players were due to be paid on Friday, but it is likely to be Tuesday or Wednesday before we are able to pay them,” confirmed Latics’ chief executive Alan Hardy.

He said the delay was a direct result of the Charity Commission’s decision to turn down the club’s proposal for a new stadium in Failsworth earlier this month.

Oldham Council’s application to transfer charitable trust status on land earmarked for Latics’ new home was rebuked with the Charity Commission saying it was “not satisfied” the proposal was in the charity’s best interests.

Mr Hardy added: “We had investors ready to offer financial support to the club’s plans for re-development, but the failure of Oldham Council to secure the transfer of trust status means that backing is no longer available. The investors were not going to stick around once that had been turned down.

“As it stands we are expecting this to be a short-term problem – but it wouldn’t have occured at all if the transfer of trust status had been granted.”

If the players were demoralised by the club’s failure to pay their wages, their excuse held no weight with Dickov.

Oldham had been level at half-time, only to concede five goals in 34 minutes.

“I won’t repeat what I said to them in the dressing room,” said Dickov. “It’s not good enough and I won’t accept it.

“To be fair, it’s the first time it’s happened but I’ll make sure it’s the first and only time.

“If it happens again I’ll put the kids in there – and I mean it.

“As long as I’m here I’ll not put up with the attitude we showed in the second half when we lost our discipline and shape.

“I felt our attitude was disgusting. I’ll find people who want to play hard, work hard and put their bodies on the line.

“Heads dropped after the first goal. You look at people to say ‘let’s get one back, let’s show a bit of desire’ but we didn’t have that.

“I won’t put up with that. I didn’t do that as a player and I won’t as a manager. You have to think it’s the end of the play-offs because if we play like that we won’t get anywhere.”

Four minutes after the break, Taylor lost possession and Peterborough worked the ball for Tommy Rowe to sidefoot home.

Three minutes later, Ryan Bennett headed Grant McCann’s corner back across goal for David Ball to score from close range. George Boyd and Ball went close before Gabriel Zakuani wrapped up victory on the hour, converting McCann’s corner from five yards.

Further salt was rubbed in Latics’ wounds eight minutes later when Craig Mackail-Smith raced onto a long ball and calmly finished past Amos.

With the fans streaming out of Boundary Park, Mackail-Smith saved the best for last with his second seven minutes from time.

Neal Trotman attempted to head a free-kick clear, only to head the ball up in the air and watch Mackail-Smith volley past Amos into the far corner.

There was still time for Amos to almost fumble Boyd’s late shot over the line as the final whistle couldn’t come quickly enough for the Oldham camp.

Defeat capped a month to forget for Latics. They won just once in seven games and haven’t scored in the last five.